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<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhile basking in the ambience and jazzy calmness of one coffee shop, the kind
of place these friends love sharing every week, they thought, \u201cThis place would
be nice to bring our friends together to have fun and socialize,\u201d said Chris Aldo,
one of the co-founders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The place, in theory, would be any area that resonated a cozy, welcoming arena of thoughts and would act the same to the target market they had in mind: People of a similar age range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRwandans are naturally reserved and prefer to stay in their comfort zone,\u201d said Jo Grace, \u201cAnd with all the challenges young Rwandans face, we wanted to come up with something of true value to help counter that.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And so, less than a week later, they had their first networking event. The group explained that on 14th December 2023, they had agreed to invite ten people each, and what was a twenty or so expected turnout became an over sixty successes at Indabo Cafe in Kiyovu. People showed out, an achievement that solidified their resolve and showed conclusively that their newfound passion would not be in vain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chris Aldo told me as we sat in a cafe, \u201cWe plan to create a community not attached to activities like sports or churches, but to link the employed youth without challenges or frivolities such as business cards. Places where people can discuss the matters of their workspace, maybe vent, and everyone leaves having learnt something that could change the way they work or realizing somethings are indeed possible to pursue.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the time of writing, there have been two of these events that the creators collectively agreed should take place every quarter. Perhaps, they wish to stay faithful to the corporate liturgy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Confidently attuned, the group touched on the true nature of their mission to facilitate young professionals\u2019 ability and opportunities to find their peers and feel relaxed around them. A feat that they thought would be efficient if they distanced themselves from regular networking events go-to’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Intently, as Rosette Muhoza affirmed, \u201cWe don\u2019t want to be viewed as a networking event company. What we\u2019re trying to achieve is far more encompassing. We are thinking of not always having our events be meetups. Sometimes they could be in the form of art exhibitions or concerts, with no strict attire. People could come wearing shorts, work suits, or other casual garbs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The promiscuous fight against being referred to as people who organize networking events comes fondly suiting against the general census that finds the youth often reluctant to join such events because they require a lot mentally and physically. Instead, if you attract them with feasts, they enjoy, they will socialize with each other Jo-Grace added, \u201cThat\u2019s why we choose coffee shops or other small event spaces to hold our social events. We don\u2019t want places with a vibe attuned to them, like hotels or clubs. Or to facilitate drinking or partying beyond the initial socializing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their pursuit finds its stronghold in eluding focused conversations solely on work. \u201cPeople could learn a thing or two about the personal lives of the peers in front of them, which would then serve to create a community where people truly understand each other instead of having surface level information,\u201d said Rosette Muhoza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a fast-paced digital world where anyone can get lost in the trenches of the internet, Rwandans are bringing solutions for the white-collar worker to be part of something big. To feel included. In its way, the HAMWE initiative, from these passionate souls, raves to rebalance the working community in this landlocked country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe workplace has changed now. It\u2019s more hybrid, and employees are more demanding and careful with their time and mental health. What we\u2019re bringing to the table is to facilitate the realities of this new corporate world,” said Chris Aldo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s a long way from achieving total acclamation and participation of the young Rwandan community in believing in networking and collaborating with like-minded fellows who often go through similar renditions of the same workplace issues. But perhaps it starts with \u201cChilling together\u201d in calm and inviting spaces and feeling understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To have a group of people even remotely care about the state of the corporate arena and the people dwelling in it announces to the ear that perhaps the youth is not lost. For the 9 to 5 workers, a regular corporate day at the office involves wandering in the world of emails, reports, feedback and overtime to make do. The occupation that once allowed the older generation to free up and find solace out of the relenting weekly routine to hang out, enjoy weekend barbecues, and find<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":6730,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[66],"tags":[157],"ppma_author":[119],"class_list":{"0":"post-6676","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business-and-career","8":"tag-from-the-magazine-main-story"},"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sensmagazine.com\/rw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-06-11-at-09.13.24-1024x976.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
organically. This is the ultimate treat that these friends bring to the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For them, a job is not all a person is, especially with young people who increasingly put their happiness and freedom above the formula of a full-time job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And that as the Rwandan culture prevails in them\u2014they want change and growth in their careers as they do in their personal lives. Because, now more than ever, those things are intertwined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sensmagazine.com\/rw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/06\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-06-11-at-09.13.42-1-1024x443.jpeg\")
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